Alan Bersten, professional dancer of “Dancing with the Stars,” chatted about his latest endeavors, which include competing in the latest season of the reality dancing competition.
This new (32nd) season of “Dancing with the Stars” will premiere on ABC and Disney+ on September 26. “I love it,” he exclaimed. “I’m excited, and I can’t wait. Rehearsals are going strong. I’m tired but we are working hard.”
Jamie Lynn Spears
His celebrity partner this season is Jamie Lynn Spears, the younger sister of pop star Britney Spears. “Jamie Lynn is great. She is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met, and I am very lucky,” he said.
Gleb Savchenko
Bersten had great words about his fellow professional dancer Gleb Savchenko. “Gleb is great. I love him,” he exclaimed.
The digital age
On being a dancer in the digital age, Bersten said, “I think there is a lot of pressure and I think with social media, there is a lot of negativity. It is important to use things in moderation and it’s also important to take time for yourself.”
Founder of Berst10 Fitness
He is also the founder of Berst10 Fitness. “I am very excited about that, it’s a fitness program that I launched, and it is only 10 minutes a day,” he admitted.
“You can use it to start your day right and it’s for every single person, whether you’ve never worked out before or if you work out every day. It’s all bodyweight… it’s just really about going out there, pushing yourself, and moving. I really think that moving is so important for good health,” he elaborated.
“This is something that I created to encourage people to get moving… even if it’s only for 10 minutes,” he added.
Daily motivations as a dancer
On his daily motivations as a dancer, he shared, “I’m very lucky that I get to do what I do every single day. I am very grateful… everything I’ve ever done, I have done full force and with a lot of passion.”
“I’m motivated by my happiness. I want to do a lot of things for myself, and this is what makes me happy. I am very lucky,” he expressed.
Advice for hopefuls in dancing
For young and aspiring dancers, he said, “Follow your dreams and do it because you love it. Don’t do it for the fame or for wanting to make a lot of money. If you dance because you truly love dancing, then you will have a lot of success.”
“I love dancing, I love being on the show and being on tour, as well as performing for people. I love the rehearsal process as well. If you really want to be a dancer, do it because you truly want it,” he explained.
Neck tumor
He opened up about his cancer diagnosis from 2018. “I had a benign tumor a few years ago on my neck and I got it cut open. Health is one of the most precious things we have in life,” he said.
“If you feel good, wake up, and just be grateful for it. I wake up and I write down 10 things that I am grateful for each day, and health is one of them. We are so lucky to wake up every day,” he added.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he exclaimed, “Go get it.”
“If you believe in something, you can truly make it special,” he said. “I believe in myself, I believe in dancing, and I believe in my fitness program… I am really going to push it, and make sure everyone has a chance to feel good.”
2019 ‘Dancing with the Stars’ champ
In November of 2019, Bersten won the 28th season of “Dancing with the Stars” with his partner Hannah Brown of “The Bachelorette.”
“There is no better feeling than winning that mirrorball trophy,” he said. “Being a part of this show is a dream come true. Winning that competition was just an even bigger dream come true.”
Bersten continued, “Now, it’s mixed pressure… less pressure because I already won, but more pressure in the sense that I love the feeling of achieving such a great goal and working with somebody.”
“It really is about taking your celebrity partner with you on this journey and watching them grow. When you have the right partner, the show is a lot more about dancing, it’s about growing in life, trusting, and making new relationships,” he elaborated.
“Winning that mirrorball trophy was the cherry on top,” he acknowledged.
Remembering Len Goodman
He fondly remembered the late but great “Dancing with the Stars” judge Len Goodman. “I did see that they are renaming the mirrorball trophy in his honor,” he said. “I think that’s awesome. I think he was the heart and soul of ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ We will always have ‘Len’ in the ballroom with us.”
Success
On his definition of the word success, he said, “I think success is different for everybody. For me, it is waking up and being in a position to do what I want that day. Being on the show is a success for me and being physically active.”
“Success means freedom,” he said. “Everyone is successful in their own right… for me, it happens to be when I dance every day. Being able to live out my dream is a success for me.”
Fans
For his fans and supporters, Bersten said, “Thank you. I think that gratitude is the most magical thing in the world. I think it’s very important to be grateful. I am very well aware that without amazing fans, I would not be half the person that I am.”
“I am grateful for the incredible support that the fans show me,” he concluded.
To learn more about professional dancer Alan Bersten, follow him on Instagram.
